Topic Overview

Starting at age 10 or at the beginning of puberty, the Canadian Diabetes Association recommends type 2 diabetes screening every 2 years for children who have two or more of the following risk factors:¹

• A body mass index (BMI) in the 95th percentile for his or her age and gender
• A family history of type 2 diabetes
• The child's mother had diabetes while pregnant with the child.
• Hispanic, African, First Nations, Asian, or Pacific Island ancestry
• Signs of not being able to use insulin properly (insulin resistance) or conditions linked with it:
  • A skin problem called acanthosis nigricans
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Fatty liver disease
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (a hormone problem that interferes with ovulation)
  • Impaired glucose tolerance
• Use of antipsychotic medicine or atypical neuroleptics

If the results of a blood glucose test mean that your child's blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet at the level of diabetes (prediabetes), your doctor will probably recommend the test be repeated later to find out whether your child has developed diabetes. If your child eats a balanced diet and gets regular exercise, he or she may not develop diabetes.

For more information, see the Interactive Tool: What Is Your Child's BMI? and the topic Type 2 Diabetes in Children.